Bloom season
The garden had exploded into color. Roses climbed the fence, lavender lined the path, and the big flower bed was a riot of pink, yellow, and purple. Luna stood at the garden gate, nose working overtime, and her tail wagged so hard her whole body wiggled. Ahmad opened the gate with a warning to be gentle. Luna walked in like a queen inspecting her kingdom.
The sniffing tour
Luna conducted a thorough sniffing tour of every flower bed. She sniffed the roses, sneezed, sniffed the lavender, sneezed again, and then discovered the sunflowers, which were taller than she was. She sat beneath them, looking up at the giant yellow faces, and a bee buzzed past her ear. Luna tracked it with her eyes, fascinated, but wisely decided not to chase it.
The butterfly ballet
A cloud of butterflies rose from the flower bed, and Luna froze. They fluttered around her, orange and white and blue, landing on blossoms near her nose. Luna watched them with her head tilted, completely enchanted. One landed on her ear. She went very still, cross-eyed with concentration, until it fluttered away. Then she looked at Ahmad as if to say did you see that?
Buddy the pollinator
Buddy arrived and immediately got pollen on his nose from sniffing a lily. He sneezed three times in a row, each sneeze launching him slightly backwards. Luna laughed in the way dogs do, with her mouth open and her tail wagging. Buddy, dignity wounded, pretended he had meant to do that and moved on to inspect the vegetable patch, where he was much more in his element.
The forbidden zone
The newly planted seedlings were behind a small fence, and Luna understood perfectly that they were forbidden. She sat beside the fence and stared at them longingly. Ahmad praised her restraint and gave her a treat. Mac, who had no such restraint, tried to jump the fence, got his paw caught, and had to be rescued. He was not praised. He was, however, given a treat for accepting the rescue gracefully.
Flower crown
Ahmad wove a small crown from fallen blossoms and placed it on Luna’s head. She sat very still, sensing the honor. Buddy sniffed the crown and approved. Mac tried to eat a petal and was gently redirected. Luna wore the crown for the rest of the afternoon, slightly crooked, completely regal, and she posed for photos with the patience of a professional model.
Evening in the garden
As the sun lowered, the garden glowed golden. The puppies lay in the cool grass between the flower beds, tired from a day of botanical investigation. Luna rested her chin on her paws, the flower crown now beside her, and watched a final butterfly drift past. The garden was still beautiful, still blooming, and Luna had inspected every inch of it. A job well done.
Field notes
Flower gardens are lovely for puppies, but check that your plants are non-toxic to dogs. Lilies, tulips, and many common blooms can be harmful if chewed. A quick check of your garden’s plants keeps flower adventures safe and happy.
